Sweet Stops

Portugalia Marketplace’s café, Ponto de Encontro, serves outstanding pasteis de nata and other pastries flown in from the Azores. Photo by Wolf Matthewson

Pasteis de nata are Portuguese egg custard tarts that can be found at Portugalia and other bakeries all over Fall River and in East Providence. The individually sized treats are sprinkled with cinnamon, caramelized on top, and rich and creamy in the middle with a flaky pie crust. Our favorites come from Portugalia and Europa.

Europa Pastries and Coffee Shop is a great place to sit for a galao (a Portuguese latte with a shot of espresso, filled with steamed milk and topped with thick foam and cinnamon) plus a Portuguese pastry. The cafe serves Portuguese baked goods, but also branched out to offer other foods from all over Europe, including Italy, Ireland, Belgium and France. “We are most well known for our egg custard tarts, which have won many awards,” says owner Andrew Ferriera. “We kept the Portuguese items people know and love but added more items from around the world.” 65 Columbia St., Fall River, Mass., 508-678-5562, europacoffeeshop.com

Portugalia Marketplace’s Cafe, Ponto de Encontro, is an intimate gathering place at the front of the store that serves coffee and espresso, baked goods — including pasteis de nata and queijadas de Vila Franca do Campo, imported directly from Portugal — and sandwiches.
489 Bedford St., Fall River, Mass., 508-617-9820, portugaliamarketplace.com

barcelos is the place for Portuguese sweet bread, but they also have pasteis de nata, Portuguese rolls, queijadas de Vila Franca do Campo and malassadas. 695 Bedford St., Fall River, Mass., 508-676-8661, barcelosbakeryma.com